Clayton Hass is a father of three, and all of his kids spend their days in the arena alongside him and his wife. Here’s how they approach the parenting-and-roping combination.
Horsemanship First, Roping Second
When I think about raising my kids in roping, my number one priority isn’t how fast they can catch or how sharp their swing looks. It’s horsemanship. I’ve seen plenty of guys with a million-dollar right arm and a 10-cent left hand—ropers who can throw a loop but can’t fit a horse or keep one working underneath them. That doesn’t last. For me, being a good horseman will always make you a better roper. So even though my son, Mac, is just 8, I focus on horsemanship from day one. The fundamentals are never too early to teach—you just have to be careful not to be too stern.
Teaching With Patience (and Apologies)
I’ll be honest—I’ve caught myself pushing too hard. Sometimes I get frustrated and come down on Mac in a way I shouldn’t. When that happens, I make it a point to apologize. I’ll walk down to the stripping chute, look him in the eye and tell him I was wrong. That’s important. Kids need to know you don’t always have it figured out and that it’s okay to admit when you’ve made a mistake. I want my kids to grow up knowing respect goes both ways.
Letting the Fire Burn Naturally
One thing I won’t do is drag my kids into the practice pen. Mac ropes every day—sometimes it’s on horseback, sometimes it’s just the dummy in the yard—but it’s because he wants to, not because I tell him to. I’ll give him opportunities, like dropping him off at Chad Masters’ with his horses, but I leave the decision up to him. When he asked me once why I never rope the dummy with him, I told him it’s because I don’t want to make it my idea. If he asks, I’ll be there in a heartbeat. But I want that motivation to come from him.
Different Kids, Different Expectations
Being a dad means recognizing that each kid is different. I’ll admit I’m harder on my son than I am on my girls. He’s always been obsessed with it, so he’s further along. At 8 years old, he’s run more steers than most kids will at 12. Naturally, I expect more from him—but I have to keep myself in check so my girls feel just as supported and valued, even if they’re not roping as much.
The Long Game
At the end of the day, my philosophy is simple: don’t force it. Roping has to be something my kids love on their own. My job is to give them the tools—horsemanship, opportunity and the right kind of encouragement—and then get out of the way enough to let them grow. Whether my son or the girls choose to rope for a living or just enjoy it as part of their lives, I want them to carry themselves with patience, humility and good hands. That’s the real plan.
—TRJ—
